Courses

Viking offers members a range of courses for all ability levels. We also welcome non-members and run beginners courses on a regular basis subject to demand. Available courses are at the bottom of this page. Please direct all course enquiries to: courses@vikingkayak.co.uk.

Beginnners:

One Star Award

British Canoeing One Star is a flat water award that demonstrates an individual has basic boat control and foundation skills.The one star can be taken in any kind of paddlesport craft (e.g. sit-on-top, slalom C2, polo boat, sea kayak, racing canoe etc.)

Two Star Award

British Canoeing Two Star is an improvement award that helps paddlers develop fundamental paddlesport skills on flat water. The emphasis is on gaining a breadth of experience, creating the desired movement of the boat and developing an understanding into how the paddle, boat and water interact. Two star is a combined kayak and open canoe award.

Paddlepower Award

Paddlepower has been designed around the needs of young people – fun, colourful and with easily identifiable progression. There is a colourful Progress Card for young paddlers to record their progress and to encourage them to move to the next stage. On completion of the award the youth sends the Progress Card to British Canoeing to receive a certificate. British Canoeing recommend Paddlepower as most suitable for young people aged 14 or under. For more information on paddlepower email: paddlepower@vikingkayak.co.uk

Intermediate:

3 Star Award

British Canoeing 3-Star – Intermediate skills, no longer a beginner. This is “discipline specific” – different awards for White Water Kayak, Open Canoe, Sea Kayak, Touring Kayak and Surf. The course covers all the strokes you are ever likely to use in your kayak and will certainly test your ability! Many white-water centres ask for the 3-Star as a requirement for entry onto the water.

FSRT

British Canoeing FSRT – Foundation Safety and Rescue Training – How to save yourself and others. Learn the key safety and rescue skills required to operate safely in a sheltered water environment and to be able to deal with common emergencies.

AFA

British Canoeing AFA – Aquatic First Aid – first-aid and lifesaving skills in an aquatic environment, with particular attention paid to the situations paddlers are most likely to see.

Advanced:

4 Star Award

British Canoeing 4-Star Leader – The skills and understanding to plan and lead up to 4 competent paddlers on on sections of moderate water (e.g. a grade 2(3) whitewater trip). You will gain the all round paddling ability, safety, rescue and basic leadership required to undertake such trips in a self-sufficient manner.

WWSR

British Canoeing WWSR – The White Water Safety and Rescue Training course is designed for all paddlers operating in a moderate to advanced white water environment in either kayak or canoe, and is required for those seeking their 4 star leader award.

Coaching:

Why not give back some of the skills and fun you have had! Learn to teach Canoeing and Kayaking through the BCU Star Syllabuses. These courses will run when required. Contact courses@vikingkayak.co.uk for more information.

Level One

British Canoeing UKCC Level 1 – This is the first step on the paddlesport coaching pathway. It will introduce you to the fundamentals of good coaching practice and helps you to understand and coach technical and tactical aspects of your sport.

Level Two

British Canoeing UKCC Level 2 – This is the second step on the paddlesport coaching pathway. It focuses on progressive coaching, helping you to develop your students within their first 3 years of paddling, through a series of sessions.

Coaches: David Cocker & Moira Ledbetter

Price:£80 non-members £50 members (this discount applies if you join VKC during or immediately after the course)

1-STAR kayak course

Jul 28 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

British Canoeing 1-Star beginner Kayak courses running from 9:30am until 4/5pm, from the Viking Kayak Club in Bedford.

Prices are £80 for non-VKC members, £50 VKC Members, (or equivalent discount off VKC membership fees if you join within a reasonable time after the course).

The aim of the 1-Star course is to get you paddling on the water and able to control a kayak on sheltered water. We would go on a short river trip from the base as part of the course and also include some safety awareness and rescue skills.

Near the end of the day once you’ve got to grips with the kayak, there may be enough time to have the opportunity to try out some different craft on the water, for example Canadian ‘Open’ Boat, slalom K1, sit-on-top.

Prerequisites

Candidates must be water confident, and ideally should be able to swim (this is desirable but not essential). If under 14 the British Canoeing PaddlePower program may be more appropriate. (Please see VKC calendar for PaddlePower youth courses planned).